GOLF COURSES OF ALGARVE PORTUGAL
AND HUELVA REGION OF SPAIN

You can view all the golf courses by visiting our front page or go to the regional links for Northern Portugal, Lisbon and Central Portugal, Algarve, Island of Madeira and the courses in the Island of The Azores.

Below is a sailor's view of the Portuguese Trade Winds (Nortada) which will affect your game of golf, especially on the western coastal links and the western Algarve courses.

The wind usually commences about midday and will finish whilst your are enjoying the excellent, cheap Portuguese cuisine for your evening meal. The start is delayed in the south and it blows later.

It is a strong wind, and can reach force 7 on the Beaufort scale (near gale) in the late afternoon.  It always blows from the north.

It´s effect is mainly felt in coastal areas and, it is strongest when there is a headland with a river valley to the south. It is also felt in the exposed areas in the western Algarve.

For the coastal courses it would seem that if you want to play in calm weather you should go out in the morning.  Those preferring the challenge of strong winds should play after lunch.

The are four causes of this wind :

• The Azores high pressure area causing good weather over the country with the wind circulating clockwise around these systems giving a northerly wind on the coast.
• In summer, there is often a low pressure system in Spain around which the wind circulates anti-clockwise causing a northerly wind in Portugal.
• The hot air over the Sahara is rising and has to be replaced by cool air. The Sahara is to the south of Portugal so the replacement air has to come form the north.
• As the Iberian Peninsular heats up during the day, the hot air rises here and cool air is sucked in, particularly along the river valleys. This increases the strength of the winds because the flow has to replace this air as well.

The seafaring skills brought about the Discoveries made by the Portuguese which was followed by the rich colonies of South America and the Far East. The goods were shipped to Portugal for distribution throughout Europe. The winds also meant that vessels from Northern Europe, going to the Americas, traded in Portugal because it was on the fastest route under sail.

Unfortunately, the steam ships signalled the end of the importance of this wind. It is enjoyed by us who sail for pleasure and cursed by the unknowing golfer on the coastal links in the afternoon.